Sun Valley's woes continue

Continuing a slide that started on June 13, the Sun Valley baseball team lost last night to Richland's Milestones 13-5. The loss was Sunnyside's sixth in its last seven games.

"They (Richland) hit the heck out of the ball," Sunnyside Coach Tom Schmick said. "Lots of doubles and triples. You name it."

Lane Pickel pitched the entire game for Sun Valley, striking out seven batters and walking only four. Still, Richland was able to smack 15 hits and Pickel was charged for all 13 of Milestones' runs.

After Richland took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Sun Valley stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Travis Jones was walked to start off Sun Valley's rally. Justin Reyes then came up and struck out. A Jasper Rubalcava single enabled Jones to scamper around the bases and score Sunnyside's first run. After Rubalcava worked his way around the bases by stealing, an errant throw by Richland's catcher allowed him to score Sunnyside's second run. After Pickel got on base, Alex Aguilar came through with a single that scored Pickel and gave Sun Valley its first and only lead of the game.

Richland came back with one run in the second and two runs in the third inning to regain the lead 5-3. Sun Valley held Richland scoreless in the fourth inning and then got one run back in the bottom of the fourth.

With one out, Andre Sarmiento singled, which was followed by a Luis Valles single. After Jones struck out for the second out of the inning, Reyes singled home Sarmiento and Sun Valley had cut Richland's lead back to one run.

Neither team could score in the fifth inning but Richland broke out for four runs on three hits in both the sixth and seventh innings to go ahead 13-4.

Jones scored Sun Valley's last run in the bottom of the seventh when Pickel singled him home. Sunnyside's rally fell short after that.

"We didn't have many errors," Schmick said, pointing out Sun Valley only had one mark against them. "They (Richland) just hit the ball hard."

Reyes would finish the game going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jones was 1-for-2, as was Chance Graff, who also had an RBI. Aguilar and Valles also finished 1-for-2 on the night. Rubalcava and Pickel each went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Sarmeinto was 1-for-3 as well.

Sun Valley (6-10) will travel to Hanford High School this evening for a 5:30 p.m. game with Richland's Sundown Sport and Marine.